1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to a PhD student who is undertaking research of using data science and digital twin technology on development of an integrated geospatial rice production decision support system. By integrating geospatial data, grain yield, and quality metrics with advanced analytics, the system will enable predictive models that link GIS data and sensing data to forecast rice growth, grain quality, and inform decisions on water and fertilisation management.

b. This Scholarship is funded by the CSIRO as part of its Next Generation Emerging Technologies Graduate Program (NGGP).

c. These Terms and Conditions are to be read in conjunction with the CSIRO Next Generation Emerging Technologies Graduate Program (NGETGP)- Program Funding Agreement (the Agreement).

2. Eligibility

a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission or being currently enrolled to study full-time in a PhD within the Business School at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants must be willing to conduct research into applying AI and machine learning techniques in integrating geospatial data, grain yield, and quality metrics for data-driven decisions on water and fertilisation management.

c. Applicants must be a domestic student.

d. Applicants must not be in full time employment at time of commencement of the scholarship.

3. Selection Criteria

a. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the basis of:

I. academic merit, and
II. area of study and/or research proposal.

b. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the nomination of the relevant research supervisor(s), or their nominated delegate(s).

4. Value

a. The Scholarship will provide a primary stipend allowance of $42,483 per annum (indexed at 2% per annum) for up to 3.5 years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.

b. The scholarship will also provide an additional one-off ‘cost of living’ payment of $5,000, upon execution of the subsequent agreements as outlined under clause 15. b. and d. of these terms and conditions.

c. The Scholarship will provide a research allowance for training of $5,000 per annum for 3 years. The recipient will be required to claim this through Concur in conjunction with their supervisor and School/Faculty finance officer.

d. The Scholarship will provide a goal amount research allowance for travel of $5,000 for 3.5 years. The recipient will be required to claim this through Concur in conjunction with their supervisor and School/Faculty finance officer.

e. Reimbursement of up to $840 for Doctoral candidates will be made for eligible claims for direct costs of producing a thesis in accordance with the University’s thesis allowance claim information. The claim must be lodged with the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC) through the email address hdrac.scholarships@sydney.edu.au within one year of submission of the thesis and no more than two years after termination of the award. Costs associated with printing a thesis are not eligible as a printed thesis is no longer required for submission and examination.

f. The Scholarship is for commencement in the relevant research period in which it is offered and cannot be deferred without prior approval from the lead supervisor, CSIRO and industry partner.

g. The scholarship cannot be transferred to another area of research or change their lead supervisor without prior approval from CSIRO.

h. No other amount is payable.

i. The Scholarship will be offered subject to the availability of funding.

5. Eligibility for Progression

a. Progression is subject to attending and passing the annual progress evaluation.

6. Leave Arrangements

a. The Scholarship recipient receives up to 20 working days recreation leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued. However, the student will forfeit any unused leave remaining when the Scholarship is terminated or complete. Recreation leave does not attract a leave loading and the supervisor's agreement must be obtained before leave is taken.

b. The Scholarship recipient may take up to 10 working days sick leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued over the tenure of the Scholarship. Students with family responsibilities, caring for sick children or relatives, or experiencing domestic violence, may convert up to five days of their annual sick leave entitlement to carer’s leave on presentation of medical certificate(s). Students taking sick leave must inform their supervisor as soon as practicable.

7. Research Overseas

a. The Scholarship recipient may not normally conduct research overseas within the first six months of award.

b. The Scholarship holder may conduct up to 12 months of their research outside Australia. Approval must be sought from the student's supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC), and will only be granted if the research is essential for completion of the degree. All periods of overseas research are cumulative and will be counted towards a student's candidature. Students must remain enrolled full-time at the University and receive approval to count time away.

8. Suspension

a. The Scholarship recipient cannot suspend their award within their first six months of study, unless a legislative provision applies.

b. The Scholarship recipient may apply for up to 12 months suspension of the Scholarship for any reason during the tenure of the Scholarship. Periods of Scholarship suspension are cumulative and failure to resume study after suspension will result in the award being terminated. Approval must be sought from the student's supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC). Periods of study towards the degree during suspension of the Scholarship will be deducted from the maximum tenure of the Scholarship.

9. Changes in Enrolment

a. The Scholarship recipient must notify HDRAC, CSIRO and their supervisor promptly of any planned changes to their enrolment including but not limited to: attendance pattern, suspension, leave of absence, withdrawal, course transfer, and candidature upgrade or downgrade. If the award holder does not provide notice of the changes identified above, the University may require repayment of any overpaid stipend.

10. Termination

a. The Scholarship will be terminated:

I. on resignation or withdrawal of the recipient from their research degree,
II. upon submission of the thesis or at the end of the award,
III. if the recipient ceases to be a full-time student and prior approval has not been obtained to hold the Scholarship on a part-time basis,
IV. upon the recipient having completed the maximum candidature for their degree as per the University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011 Policy,
V. if the recipient receives an alternative primary stipend scholarship. In such circumstances this Scholarship will be terminated in favour of the alternative stipend scholarship where it is of higher value,
VI. if the recipient does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or
VII. if the recipient ceases to meet the eligibility requirements specified for this Scholarship, (other than during a period in which the Scholarship has been suspended or during a period of approved leave).

b. The Scholarship may also be terminated by the University before this time if, in the opinion of the University:

I. the course of study is not being carried out with competence and diligence or in accordance with the terms of this offer,
II. the student fails to maintain satisfactory progress, or
III. the student has committed misconduct or other inappropriate conduct.

c. The Scholarship will be suspended throughout the duration of any enquiry/appeal process.

d. Once the Scholarship has been terminated, it will not be reinstated unless due to University error.

11. Misconduct

a. Where during the Scholarship a student engages in misconduct, or other inappropriate conduct (either during the Scholarship or in connection with the student’s application and eligibility for the Scholarship), which in the opinion of the University warrants recovery of funds provided, the University may require the student to repay payments made in connection with the Scholarship. Examples of such conduct include and without limitation; academic dishonesty, research misconduct within the meaning of the Research Code of Conduct 2023 (for example, plagiarism in proposing, carrying out or reporting the results of research, or failure to declare or manage a serious conflict of interests), breach of the Student Charter 2020 and misrepresentation in the application materials or other documentation associated with the Scholarship.

b. The University may require such repayment at any time during or after the Scholarship period. In addition, by accepting this Scholarship, the student consents to all aspects of any investigation into misconduct in connection with this Scholarship being disclosed by the University to the funding body and/or any relevant professional body.

12. Intellectual Property

a. The recipient of this Scholarship must complete the Student Deed Poll supplied by the University of Sydney to cover any Intellectual Property (IP) developed under this project.

b. The Scholarship recipient must not be subject to an obligation to a third party to provide that third party with rights to any Intellectual Property created in the course of their degree.

13. Confidentiality

a. The Scholarship recipient must comply with obligations in relation to Confidential Information.

b. The Scholarship recipient may only:
I. use the Confidential Information of another Party for the purposes of performing their obligations under this Agreement; and
II. disclose the Confidential Information of another Party with the prior written consent of the relevant Party.

14. Acknowledgement

a. The Scholarship recipient is required to acknowledge CSIRO and contribution and support for the Project for any publication in relation to this research.

b. The Scholarship recipient must include the Acknowledge Statement as outlined in the Agreement.

15. Other Requirements

a. The Scholarship recipient must undertake a placement with Charles Sturt University Agri Sciences Research and Business Park or Industry Partner.

b. The Scholarship recipient must agree to enter and abide all terms and conditions outlined in subsequent student agreement(s) between the University of Sydney, CSIRO and the student related to the research project The agreement(s) will specify terms regarding, but not limited to, industry engagement component, Intellectual Property, thesis, publications and confidentiality. This is also a precondition of participation.

c. The Scholarship recipient must meet the requirements for CSIRO Student affiliate onboarding.

d. An applicant may be selected for the scholarship; however, no scholarship offer will be sent until the applicant has entered into a Next Generation Postgraduates Student Agreement.

e. The Scholarship recipient is expected to endeavour to remain in or seek work in Australia following completion of their Next Generation Scholarship; and

f. The Scholarship recipient must commit to maintain contact with the CSIRO for up to 2 years, for reporting and evaluation of outcomes relating to the project.

g. The Scholarship recipient is required to undertake a compulsory coursework program – developed, led, and managed by CSIRO, within 12 months of the commencement of this Scholarship